In this YouTube Video, I demonstrate how to use Ableton Live 8 and the Velocity MIDI device along with a dummy clip to add velocity to incoming MIDI notes that are a fixed velocity. I illustrate this with the Tenori-On but this concept will work with any MIDI device.
Once velocity is introduced into the equation you can then do all sorts of interesting things with modulation. In the video I use velocity to modulate the filter frequency with Circle. Of course you could just as easily use this to play different samples in a velocity split with Sampler and so on.
Update: Note this same technique will also work for adding notes to incoming MIDI from User Mode 1 from a Novation Launchpad which is also fixed velocity.
Mark Mosher Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer Louisville/Denver/Boulder
I’m the proud owner of the new Akai APC40. I’ve already integrated it into my workflow along with my Novation Remote SL. I’ve put together a video of how I’m using these controllers with Live 8.
This video is a step-by-step tutorial describing Ableton Live 8’s new custom parameter mapping methodology. The video illustrates how to map select parameters from VST plug-ins into devices and then control these parameters via the Novation Remote SL and the new Akai APC40. The video also discusses how to add and access more than 8 parameters. Lastly, the video covers use of instrument racks and macro controls to map parameters from multiple devices to an 8 knob group.
Stay tuned for more posts on controllerism and the Akai APC40.
One of the new features introduced Ableton Live 8 is the ability to step-sequence in the Midi Note Editor. This is covered only briefly on page 204 of the manual so I put together a 5 min. video tutorial to help you get your mind around how this feature works.
[Update June 17, 2020 This featured is called Step-Recording in the Live 10 manual and is documented here]
In the video I cover:
How to arm the step recorder
How to enter notes with a MIDI controller and the arrow keys
How to sequence drums
How to sequence notes and chords
How to preview steps with the arrow keys
How to MIDI Map a controller to next and back steps
I’ve seen questions recently in Modulate This comments, and on the Ableton Live forum regarding the creation of multi-sampled instruments in Ableton Live. This video tutorial is step-by-step how-to video that walks you through the creation of a velocity switched multi-sampled instrument using Ableton Live, Ableton Simpler, Instrument Racks, and Drum Racks.
In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to configure an external audio editor within Live, then invoke this editor to tweak audio within a clip. In this case I’ll be using the external audio editor to a normalize the audio within a clip, but you can use the audio editor to make any edits you wish. This tutorial assumes you have some sort of audio editor application already installed on your system.
First you need to configure Live to specify the external audio editor you who want to use. To do this, use the “Options-> Preferences…” menu, then click the “File Folder” tab. Click the “Browse” button in the Sample Editor section. You can now browse your system for the executable of the audio editor you want to use. In the case of this example, I’ve selected Sound Forge. Close the preferences dialog box. The editor is now configured for use within Live.
Now, double-click on an audio clip you want to edit. To invoke the editor, right-click the waveform in the “Sample Display/Note Editor” window then select the “Manage Sample File” menu option.
This causes the select “Replace Sample Files” window to open. Click the “Edit” button for the sample you want to edit.
This launches the external audio editor and loads the sample into the editor. Note that this also takes the sample off-line within Live.
You are now free to perform any edits you wish — and in this case I used Sound Forge to normalize the audio. Once you’re done editing the audio save it using the appropriate commands from within the external audio editor.
Now return to Live (you can leave the audio editor open if you like). You’ll notice that in the “Replace Files Window”, the “Edit” button is illuminated for the sample you’ve been working on. Click the “Edit” button to reload the sample into Live and bring it back online.
As you can see from the waveform display below, the sample has been normalized and has a much higher amplitude.
